Tuesday, Ynys Hir RSPB

A late afternoon stroll to the reserve and walk to Marian Mawr and Saltings hides resulted in a steady selection of birds, about 8 Blackcaps, Nuthatch, Song Thrush in fine voice, Little Grebe and Egret, an unseen Sedge Warbler,  delightful mixed flock of Swallows Sand and House Martins, lots of Wrens, a splendidly aggressive Canada Goose not at all phased by 4 adult humans and seeing us off until we disappeared out of sight, Grey Heron, Reed Buntings, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs, a very distant Cuckoo call, probably on the Foel and all the usual gulls, corvidas finches etc. but the best was saved until last. As we left the reserve and walked past the dead oak tree in the Mallard pool, we were alerted to activity in the pines opposite the oak by falling cones, looking up revealed not the expected squirrel but a fine pair of Crossbills, we spent at least 15 mins watching them pull whole cones from the tree and shower them around.